UPDATE: Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. Nora, I really like the idea of putting some embroidery and perhaps appliqué on it. Great suggestion! Maybe as I get closer to finishing, I’ll start getting creative. ;) Oh, and a local crafting friend told me that she uses a straight stitch for this kind of work. So I might stop using the zigzag, since it uses a ton of thread.
The cooler weather we’re experiencing may only be related to Gustav, but it sure makes me want to knit, make yummy soup, and cuddle up under a favorite old quilt. Unfortunately, that favorite quilt needs some extra love. So much that I’ve decided to forgo the handstitching and mend this baby with my trusty machine! I’m using the zigzag stitch, but if you have any advice, do tell.
We’ve missed this dear quilt for two winters now because it’s in such bad shape.
A brief history: It was a wedding present to Evan’s parents (about 30 years ago?), and it went into storage in the ’90s (while the family was in China). Then, when Evan was in college (in SC), he found it in his grandparents’ shed and acquired it for his own. He loved it so much that Grandmother Derrick had to mend it multiple times for him. The last time was just before our wedding.
So the burden, ahem, baton has been passed on to me.
I’m setting an arbitrary deadline to finish the mending by October. Oh, Quilt. You are a Lucky Beast. If I didn’t love you so much, I would cut you up and throw you on the scrap pile. Alas.
And completely off topic: I found this awesome and economical black bean soup recipe. It was a hit for us, so I’m passing it on. We didn’t have any celery or onion, but it still tasted great (we never eat onion ’round these here parts). I also cooked it on the stovetop, but it would be nice to smell cooking all day in a Crockpot. Especially on a crisp, autumn day!
September 6th, 2008 at 3:09 am
I wouldn’t know where to start so I can’t offer any advice. A little encouragement though- it’s obviously a very dear quilt to you and your family and the colours are so beautiful- you’ll all be so happy when it’s fixed!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I think so too. I know Evan’s tired of seeing it lumped in a corner in the closet. Poor guy. If he could sew, I think he’d fix it himself!
September 7th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Have fun with this (and I totally mean it!) You are so lucky to have an object like this that’s been passed down!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:36 am
What a sweet quilt, I’m sure however you mend it will turn out great. I just popped over from WR and I love your blog! Your photos are just wonderful! I’m going to add you to my google reader list right now!
September 8th, 2008 at 9:55 am
It is in bad shape, but always worth fixing something that’s beloved! Suggestion…After the seam mending, applique ’shapes’ over sections where the fabric is missing. If you want to continue the family connection, you can use 1. pieces of old clothing, 2. muslin (or any other solid color) with photo-transferred pictures of friends/family/locations, or 3. paint/embroider/write personal information on the patches (info like names, dates of birth and marriage, residence in China and SC, etc.).
Nora
September 11th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I think I am going to try this soup on some upcoming fall day and maybe we can have your adorable family over! Thanks for the recipe.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Sounds like fun, Cheryl! Let’s do it. :)